Azzato finds a way to honor ex-teammate

The late Frank Reali (31) was a key contributor to Susan Wagner's 1986 PSAL city championship team. (Photo courtesy of Carmine Azzato)

No matter how many years pass, no matter how long it has been, Carmine Azzato says a teammate still cares.

Azzato was traveling the world as his alter-ego, the wrestler Blast, doing events in Japan, India and like faraway places. He came home in January, and, as usual, was understandably out of the loop with things in his hometown.

I'm always out of town, so I never make any of the football dinners," said Azzato, a member of Susan Wagner's 1986 football city championship team. "I saw all of Frank Reali's family there, his parents, his wife, kids. And I'm thinking 'Where's Frank?'"

As he would find out that night, Frank J. Reali III, Azzato's teammate on the 1986 Falcons, succumbed to sudden cardiac death (SCD) in April of 2007 at the far too young age of 36.

"I was in shock," Azzato said.

"He was devastated," said Fran Reali, Frank's mother and the director of the Frank J. Reali III Family Foundation, along with her husband, also named Frank. "We talked and we told him about the foundation."

That's when Frank Reali's teammate decided to get involved, by doing what he does best.

So, on May 30, The Frank J. Reali III Family Foundation will present a Pro Wrestling Revolution event at the Richmond County Ballpark at St. George, home of the Staten Island Yankees, appropriately titled "Heart of a Champion."

Scheduled to appear with Blast are TNA Superstar Booker T, The Powers of Pain, Blast's long-time rival Kamala, Mikey (formerly of the Spirit Squad) and plenty more. Fran Reali also said WFAN-660 AM's Evan Roberts will do a show from the event.

And Azzato, or Blast, we should say, says he's got some special things planned for the show.

"It's going to be a great night," he said. "Everyone is excited. We're have nine matches. There will be ringside seating. It's going to be special."

The main event starts at 6 p.m., with a special meet and greet with the wrestling stars from 3:30-4:15 p.m. A fireworks show will immediately follow the final bout. The proceeds from the event will go to the foundation's continuing effort to raise awareness of SCD and help its Healthy Heart Program, which helps provide testing for young people.

For tickets to the event, you can visit www.TicketMaster.com, call the Staten Island Yankees box office at 718-720-9265 (option 4) or call the Frank J. Reali III Family Foundation at 718-420-2331.